Huffman Headlines

Dear Huffman families,

I hope everyone is staying warm during this cold snap! Even though it's challenging to keep warm, I do love these beautiful clear days. Please help your child enjoy recess by making sure they have all of their warm winter gear, as we go outside everyday unless it is colder than -10.

I hope everyone enjoys the short week at school and the long Thanksgiving weekend. I know that I am looking forward to some extra time with friends and family, and lots of good food.

Thank you to all of the families that participated in our canned food drive. What a success! I am grateful that we have such a caring community here at Huffman.

As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or celebrations to share, please feel free to contact me anytime.

Respectfully,

Molly Hickox, Principal

Huffman Elementary School

We have two current openings for Teacher Assistants, one in kindergarten (5.5 hours per day) and one in our Extended Resource program (7 hours per day with benefits). Please call or email Principal Hickox at hickox_molly@asdk12.org or 907-742-5650 for more information if you are interested. We would love to have you join our team, and we will provide the training necessary to be successful.

Dear Ms. Rusch’s Health Class Parent(s)/Guardian(s),

This letter is to let you know that your child’s class will be receiving age-appropriate lessons on child sexual abuse and assault prevention education as required under the state’s Alaska Safe Children’s Act (Erin’s Law).

Erin’s Law Education consists of quarterly grade level lessons that will be taught during the Health classes. Combined, these lessons meet the full requirements for student training under the Alaska Safe Children’s Act, Erin’s Law, and are designed to help prevent childhood sexual abuse. These lessons will be presented in a non-threatening way, along with the skills needed for self-protection and will be handled in a sensitive, respectful manner.

If you have any questions about the content of the program or if you wish to inquire about opting out, please contact our Elem. Health Specialist, Ali Rusch at: rusch_alexis@asdk12.org

This series of lessons for Quarter 2 is a list of grade appropriate books, which are available online for preview.

Kindergarten – No, Means No!

1st Grade- Your Body Belongs to You

2nd grade- Do You Have A Secret?

3rd grade- The Right Touch

4th grade- Talk About Touch

5th grade- Cell Phoney

6 grade- Kid Trapper

Thank you for partnering with us as we continue to provide learning opportunities to improve the safety and wellbeing of our students.

Sincerely,

Ms. Rusch

Elementary Health

Did you miss last week's informational webinar about the COVID vaccine for children? The Alaska Children's Trust sponsored an informational session which included a panel of several pediatricians from across the state including a pediatric cardiologist. I encourage you to listen if you still have questions about the vaccine.

To view the recording again, here it is on YouTube and here is the Facebook Live version.

Covid Vaccines:

ASD continues their Covid vaccine clinics beginning Monday, Nov. 20th. You will need to register if is it your 1st or 2nd vaccine. Click here for times, locations, and registration information. Children and adults welcome.

Covid testing Sites:

I am able to give PCR Covid tests at Huffman. We are using the Beechtree Molecular Lab, with results coming back the next morning. Please contact me if you would like your child tested. Pre-registration is required.

ASD/beechtree registration for testing

Beechtree registration instructions

Thank you for helping us keep our Huffman kids safe and healthy. If you have questions, you can reach me by email;

hepler_krista@asdk12.org or at 742-5651.

Interested in joining the Huffman PTO? Fill out the form here. We need your help and we have lots of opportunities depending on the time you might have available. Anyone can be a member and you don't have to attend monthly meetings to join.

Don't forget to check out our Huffman PTO Facebook Page here for all the latest and greatest school events information.

Our next PTO meeting is December 6th, 4 PM in the Huffman library. You are welcome to join us!

We are implementing a new math program called i-Ready Classroom Mathematics this year at Huffman and across the Anchorage School District. Below are some resources to help you become familiar with the program and learn how you can support your student in learning math at home.

• Watch this video to learn about the i-Ready Classroom Mathematics program and get answers to the most common questions families ask about the program.
• Read this resource to get to know the i-Ready Classroom Mathematics program and learn how you can support your student at home.
• Visit the i-Ready Classroom Mathematics Family Center for additional support.

Please reach out if you have any questions or would like to learn additional ways you can support your student with mathematics at home. Please also see the document below called Math Practice Myths to see how research is changing the way we learn about teaching math.

This year, our school will be using a screener to look at school-wide systems of support for social emotional learning and behavior. This screener, much like our academic Universal Screeners (FastBridge and MAP Growth), will be completed with all students in the Winter (December) and Spring (April). Teachers will rate students relative to various behavioral risk factors. The assessment is called the Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener (SAEBRS). The tool will help teachers identify what additional structures they might need to have in place in their classrooms and as well as identifying students who may need additional supports to increase their academic and social emotional success. This screening is completed by teachers and will not take away from instructional time nor require input/answers from students. Should you have any questions about the use of this universal screener, please don’t hesitate to contact Principal Hickox.

Email: hickox_molly@asdk12.org
Website: https://www.asdk12.org/huffman
Location: 12000 Lorraine Street, Anchorage, AK, USA
Phone: 907-742-5650
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuffmanElementary